[§302A-640]  Public schools; minimumstaffing levels.  (a)  Schools with only one class for each grade level inkindergarten through grade six shall be exempt from the average statewide classsize ratio that may be established under any collective bargaining agreementbetween the teacher's exclusive bargaining representative and the department. These schools shall maintain a minimum staffing level of not less than onefull-time equivalent teacher position per grade level per school, forkindergarten to grade six.  This subsection shall not apply to a school withfewer than twelve students in any one grade level.

(b)  The department shall carry out thepurposes of this section using existing resource teachers within the state anddistrict offices. [L 1996, c 89, pt of §2]